Committee advances bill that limits CEQA 'no project' analysis for university expansion and requires campus planning participation

SB 486 would eliminate the requirement that UC and CSU campuses include a "no project" alternative in environmental analyses and would require the universities to share full enrollment forecasting data and participate in regional sustainable communities strategies that underpin RHNA allocations.

The sponsor said the bill recognizes higher education as a state responsibility and argued that campuses should not treat enrollment as purely local decisions. The sponsor told the committee campuses "do not have to analyze no project as one of the alternatives" while also requiring campuses to participate fully in regional planning and to share enrollment forecasts with councils of governments and metropolitan planning organizations.

Proponents said the change would improve regional planning by giving local agencies better information about future student housing needs. A representative for "Chamber Progress" voiced support during the hearing; no witnesses in opposition were recorded.

Committee members praised the bill; one member said it will help reconcile regional housing and transportation planning with projected campus growth. The committee approved a motion to pass the bill to the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources. The clerk announced the bill "is out" after the roll call; the public committee record shows the measure advanced from committee.